Filling apparatus



July 3, 1934. G. J. MEYER FILLING APPARATUS Filed May 6, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WI TNESSES ATTRNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gas G. J. MEYER FILLING APPARATUS Filed May 6, 1929 fig. 2

//I ll INVENTOR A TTORNE' Liquid July 3, 1934 IVNTOR July 3, 1934. G. J. MEYER FILLING APPARATUS s Sheet-Sheet 5 Filed May 6, 1929 WTNESSES Patented July 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILLING APPARATUS Geo. J, Meyer George J. Meyer, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Manufacturing Company,

9 Claims.

The invention relates tofilling apparatus.

For the purpose of filling bottles with carbonated liquids, filling machines have been heretofore devised which include filler chambers or reservoirs containing carbonated liquid and carbon dioxide gas under pressure, those operating with gas pressures ranging from atmospheric to 20 or 30 pounds per square inch 'above atmosphere being known as low pressure fillers, while those that operate under gas pressures in the neighborhood of 60 pounds per square inch being known as high pressure fillers. It is desirable in all cases that any carbonated liquid bekept in contact only with carbon dioxide gas, since there is always some gas escaping from the liquid. In either type of filling machine, it has been usual to feed the bottles to the machine and after sealing the bottles to connect the filling devices with the gas space above the liquid, the air in the bottles being displaced by the gas and liquid and permitted to escape through special apertures into the gas space. In other cases, the bottles are first placed in communication with the gas space in the filler chamber and thereby are filled with 5 gas at substantially the same pressure, but the gas in the chamber very soon becomes diluted with the air escaping from the bottles, which is an objectionable condition. In present filling machines, especially those of the low pressure type, all the air which escapes from the bottles into the filler chamber must be sniited out of the filler chamber and thereby carries with it a considerable portion of gas. In high pressure filling machines, the bottles after being sealed receive therein carbonated liquid at high pressure,

the air in the bottles being compressed until the bottles are about three-quarters full. During the filling operation, the carbonated liquid is agitated and atomized, so that it loses a considerable portion of its gas which mingles with the air in the bottles until the pressure of the mixed air' and gas reaches the point at which it is balanced by the internal gas pressure acting on the liquid. In order to permit the bottles to become completely filled, it is then necessary to snift out the compressed air and gas from thebottles, which results in the loss of a great deal of gas. During the first fiow of the carbonated liquid into the bott'es, there is considerable agitation because of the absence of any material pressure in the bottles, and this agitation continues until the gas escapes from the liquid to build up a counterpressure which thereby results in a substantial loss of gas.

In order to obviate the difiiculties heretofore encountered in filling bottles with carbonated liquid, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filling machine in which the bottles after being sealed are evacuated to remove the air and are then filled with carbon dioxide gas under substantially the same pressure at which the carbonated liquid is stored in the filling chamber of the machine, whereupon the liquid is then introduced into the bottles against a balanced gas pressure, thereby avoiding agitation of the liquid and loss of carbonation, and minimizing contamination of the displaced gas, which may be returned to the space above the liquid in the filling chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide i0 gas-pressure-operated valve means for controlling the fiow of carbonated liquid into the bottles and for preventing the flow of liquid in the absence of a bottle or in the presence of a defective bottle.

A further object is to provide bottle-operated valve means for permitting the evacuating and filling operations only when the bottle is in filling position.

A further object is to provide valve means for preventing the excessive flow of gas in the presence of a leaky bottle.

A further object is to construct the filling machine in such manner as to dispense with the use of lifting plungers or cams for moving the bottles to thereby minimize the agitation or jarring of the bottles and to simplify the construction of the machine.

A further object is to provide swingably mounted spouts of nozzles which have their inner ends in communication with the liquid in a filler chamber and have depending outer ends which are adapted to register with the bottles.

A further object is to provide a filling machine including a rotary filling chamber and valve means operated by the rotation of the chamber for controlling the evacuating and filling operations.

A further object is to provide a filler chamber or reservoir having a ported hub portion through 1 which the gas space above the liquid in the chamber or reservoir is placed in communication with the bottles.

A further object is to provide simple but effective valve means co-operating with the ports in 105 In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a filling machine constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away and parts being shown in-section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the filling machine taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail plan view of the rotary bottle table of the filling machine;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the filling mechanism taken along one of the filler spouts or nozzles;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2; I

Fig.1 7 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the connection of the filler spouts or nozzles to the reservoir, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view, showing a modification of the mechanism for permitting the filling spouts or nozzles to be retained in elevated position in the absence of bottles.

In these drawings, the numeral 10 designates a rectangular marginally-flanged base plate which is supported from the floor on vertically-adjustable jack pedestals 11. A rectangular marginallyfianged platform 12 is supported above the base plate 10 on pillars 13, which may, if desired, be adjustable for effecting a vertical adjustment of the platform. A terraced channel 14 is formed in the upper surface of the platform 12 near and parallel to one edge to receive and guide therein the upper flight of a fiat top bottle conveyor chain 15, the upper surface of which is substantially 35 flush with the upper surface of the platform. The. conveyor chain 15 may extend beyond opposite ends of the platform 12 any desired distance, and in the present instance, the chain passes over sprockets 16 which are carried on shafts 1'7 and 18 jour'nalled in outrigger brackets 19 secured to the platform at the opposite ends .of the chainreceiving channel 14. The upper flight of the bottle conveyor chain 15 travels from left to right as viewed in Fig. 1, bottles 20 being placed on the chain at its left end and removed therefrom at its right end. The sprocket 16 at the discharge end of the chain 15 is the propelling sprocket for the chain, and its shaft 18, which is journalled in the bracket 19, is also journalled in another bracket 21 and carries a driving sprocket 22.

A hollow column 23 is fixedly secured to the upper surface of the base plate 10 and has fixedly secured therein, as by means including a screw 24, a tubular standard 25 which has its upper end extending above the platform 12. A collar 26 is fixedly secured to the standard 25 and rests on the upper end of the column 23.

A rotary bowl-shaped filler chamber or reservoir 27 is provided with an elongated hub 28 which is journalled on the upper portions of the tubular standard 25, the lower end of the hub resting on an apertured thrust washer or gasket 29 abutting against the upper face of the collar 26, and the upper end of the hub within the chamber being substantially flush with the upper end of the standard 25.

A rotary circular table 30, which is fixedly carried on the lower portions of the hub 28 by means including a screw 31, occupies a large circular opening in the platform 12, the upper surface of the table being substantially fiush with the upper surface of the platform. The rotary table 30 has secured thereto on its underside a. coaxial ring gear 32 which meshes with a pinion 33 (seen in Fig. 1) secured to a vertical shaft 34. The pinion shaft 34 is driven at a suitable speed through any appropriate driving connection, which may be similar to that shown in my copending application Serial No. 189,548, for Filling and capping machines, filed May 7, 1927. In the present instance, a pulley 35 mounted on a shaft 36 forms a part of the driving connection, the pulley 35 being driven by any suitable source of power. By means of the ring gear and pinion connection, the rotary table 30 and the superposed rotary filler chamber or reservoir 27 are given a slow continuous rotation in the same direction and at the same rate of travel.

Carbonated liquid is conducted to the filler chamber 27 through a pipe 37 disposed within the tubular standard 25. The upper end portion of this pipe passes through the hub portion of a stationary valve member 38 and is provided with a goose-neck 39 having a float-controlled valve 40 at its depending end for determining the liquid level in the chamber 27. The lower end portion of the pipe 37 may pass through a stuffing box 41 at the lower end of the tubular standard 25.

The space above the carbonated liquid in the under pressure, the gas being conducted to the upper portions of the chamber through a pipe 42 having a swivel connection 43 for permitting the chamber to turn relatively with respect to the pipe. As another expedient, the gas could be introduced into the chamber by entraining it with the carbonated liquid flowing through the pipe 3'7. In .order to minimize loss of gas from the carbonated liquid in the chamber, the liquid is preferably refrigerated before being introduced into the chamber, and the chamber may be covered with suitable heat insulation 44 to keep the liquid cold.

A plurality of radially-extending filling spouts or nozzles 45 are pivotally mounted on the chamber 27 to swing in vertical planes. Each filling spout or nozzle may be mounted on the chamber in the manner seen in Fig. '7 in which the chamber is provided with spaced recesses 46 each presenting at one side a fiat face 4'7 receiving thereagainst a sealing washer or gasket 48 against which abuts the hub portion of the filling spout, this abutment being maintained by a screw 49 or other suitable means. The inner end of the filling spout or nozzle is provided with a tubular L-shaped extension 50, one part thereof being attached to the hub portion of the spout and being journalled in the bowl above the liquid level and another part of the extension depending below the liquid level in all operative positions of the spout.

The outer end of each filling spout or nozzle 45 is provided with an arcuate depending tubular chamber 27 is occupied by carbon dioxide gas 'portion 51, which is adapted to enter a bottle. 355

The depending portion 51 of the spout carries a conical sealing collar 52 of yielding material, such as rubber, engageable with the neck portion of the bottle for sealing the bottle after the spout has entered therein. The lower end of the discharge portion of the spout 45 forms a valve seat co-operating with a valve member 53 secured to a stem 54 within the spout. A diaphragm chamber 55 is carried above the outer end of each spout in readily accessible position and is provided with T.

a diaphragm 56 which is attached to the valve stem 54, the stern being surrounded by a helical spring 57 which normally urges the stem upwardly to close the valve at the discharge end of the spout,

A tube 58 communicates with the dia- 15-1 phragm chamber 55 for admitting gas under pressure to the chamber, as hereinafter described, to open the valve 53. The tube 58 communicates with another tube 59 secured along the spout and including a portion arranged within the spout and 7 sealing engagement with the bottles in any suitable manner, as by means of weights 66 suspended from the guide arms 64, although spring means may obviously be used instead of weights.

In order to place the bottles 20 in accurate registratiori with the. spouts 45, a star wheel 67 is secured to the upper face of the rotary table-30 to receive the bottles in its spaced notches, and in addition thereto a suitable neck holder may be provided, herein shown as a notched ring 68 which is supported at the upper ends of pillars 69.

For the purpose. of transfen'ingbottles from the bottle conveyor chain 15 to the rotary filling table 30, a star wheel 70 is placed above the table between the conveyor chain and filling table and is provided with peripheral bottle-receiving notches 71. The star wheel is secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 72 journalled in a vertical bearing '73 and carrying a sprocket 74 at its lower end, the sprocket being driven by pins 75 depending from the rotary table 30 so that the table and star wheel are co-ordinated in rotation. The star wheel '70 is partially surrounded by a series of laterally-acting arcuate fingers 76 mounted on the inner face of an arcuate supporting plate '77 and engaging the bottles to urge them into the notches '71 of the star wheel. The free end of each spring finger '76 projects in the direction of rotation of the star wheel 70 and overlaps the fixed end of the next spring finger.

Guide walls '78 are placed on opposite sides of the incoming portion of the bottle conveyor chain 15, and those portions of the guide walls adjacent the star wheel 70 are disposed angularly to direct the bottles into the star wheel. A deflector 79, which forms a continuation of the outer guide wall '78 adjacent the star wheel,'is mounted on a horizontally movable hinged plate 80, springurged inwardly so that the deflected block may yield outwardly under abnormal pressure to the dotted line position of Fig. 1, thereby forming a safety gate which will prevent any jamming of bottles at the star wheel. The bottles entering from the star wheel '70 onto the rotary filling table 30 and into the notches of the star wheel 6'1 are further guided by a finger 81, which forms one end of an arcuate guide band 82 partially surrounding the filler table to retain the bottles in the notches of the star wheel 67, the band being mounted on resilient supports 83 secured to the platform 12.

The upper face of the stationary collar 26 on the tubular standard 25 is provided with a suction port 84 which is connected by a conduit 85 with any suitable exhauster 86. The gasket or thrust washer 29 may be fixed to the collar 26 and, if so, is ported to register with the exhaust port 84. e

A plurality of spaced vertically-extending bores 87 are formed through the elongated hub portion 28 of the filler chamber 27, there being a bore 87 for each filler spout 45. During the rotation of the chamber the lower ends of the bores 87 successively register with the exhaust port 84 with which they remain in communication for a short period of time. The upper ends of the bores 87 intermittently communicate with the gas-filled space above the liquid in the chamber, the stationary valve member 38 serving to close the bores during part of each revolution of the chamber, including that portion of the cycle of operation in which the lower ends of the bores are placed in communication with the exhaust port 84. An intermediate portion of each bore is connected with a ball check valve 88 from which leads a conduit 89 extending-to a bottle-operated valve carried on the star wheel 67. This valve may be of any suitable type and in the present instance is shown to include a packed horizontallymovable valve plunger 90, which when depressed by a bottle in the star wheel provides communication between the conduit 89 and another conduit 91 through a passage 92 formed in the plunger. The upper end of the conduit 91 is connected to the conduit 59 heretofore mentioned by a flexible coupling 93 of any suitable type.

The filling machine preferably includes a capping mechanism which may be similar to that shown in my above-noted application Serial No. 189,548, filed May 7, 1927. The capping mechanism is not illustrated in full, but there is shown a rotary capping table 94 which may be driven in any suitable manner and which co-operates with a concentrically arranged star wheel 95, suitable guard members 96, 97 and 98 being provided for leading the bottles from the filling table to the capping table and from the capping table to the outgoing portion of the bottle conveyor 15. In addition, a suitably driven star wheel 99 may be employed, as in the above-noted application, for assisting the transfer of bottles from the filling table to the capping table.

In operation, empty bottles are placed on the incoming portion of the conveyor chain 15 from which they are conducted by the star wheel '70 onto the filling table 80, the bottles being retained in the notches of the filling table star wheel 67 by means of the guide band 82, in which position the bottles depress the valve plunger to effect communication between the conduits 89 and 91.

As soon as each entering bottle is properly positioned in the star wheel of the filling table 30, the superposed filling spout 45 descends and the depending outer end thereof enters the neck portion of the bottle, the descent of the spout being tle, the lower end of its co-operating bore 8'7 in the hub 28 of the tiller chamber is placed in communication with the suction port 84, whereupon the bottle is evacuated. Upon further rotation of the chamber, the lower end of the bore 87 leaves the suction port 84 and the upper end of the bore is then placed in communication with the gas in the space above the liquid in the filler chamber, whereupon gas under pressure flows through the upper portions of the bore 87 through the normally inactive check valve 88, conduit 89, valve passage 92 in the valve plunger 90, conduit 91, coupling 93, conduit 59 and thence into the bottle through the opening 60 in the side of the spout. The valve member 38 at the upper end of the bore 87 is preferably so formed (see Fig. 5) that it opens the bore gradually in order to prevent a sudden rush of gas to the bottle, which would tend to close the check valve 88. However, in the presence of a leaky bottle, the fiow of gas becomes sufficiently fast to close the check valve 88. As soon as the gas pressure builds up in a perfect bottle, the gas pressure in the diaphragm chamber 55 becomes substantially equal to that in the filler chamber 27, whereupon'the valve 53 at the lower end of the filling spout is opened. The spout having been previously filled with liquid, the depending outer end 51 thereof forms a siphon leg which initiates the flow of carbonated liquid into the bottle. The liquid flows smoothly and quietly into the bottle Without agitation because of the existence of counter gas pressure in the bottle, thereby avoiding undesirable agitation of the liquid and consequent loss of gas. The gas in the bottle displaced by the incoming liquid fiows backwardly through the path by which it reached the bottle and thus again reaches the gas space in the filler chamber.

The carbonated liquid rising in the bottle may or may not seal the opening 60. The opening 60 is fairly small so that, although it will permit the free passage of gas therethrough, it would soon be obstructed by any liquid and consequently the filling of the bottle would cease. This obstruction of the opening by the liquid might be required for certain heavy liquids, but for average liquids the opening should be well above the liquid level in the filled bottle, as the level in the bottle would naturally be determined by the level in the filler chamber. When the liquid being filled is a malt beverage, it would be advisable not to have even a small quantity of the beverage enter this opening, as this would later be returned to the bottle when it is charged with gas and thereby might cause foaming.

The filling operation continues throughout part of a revolution of the filling table, and, when it is completed, the stationary valve member 38 within the filler chamber closes the upper end of the bore 87 forming the gas passage to the bottle. The subsequent reduction of gas pressure in the bottle and in the diaphragm chamber 55 permlts the spring 5''! to close the valve 53 at; the lower end of the filling spout, and upon the continued rotation of the filling table, the rollerequipped link 61 rides up on the cam track 63 to lift the closed filling spout out of the bottle. Since the valve member 53 at the end of the filling tube is then closed, liquid is retained in the depending leg 51 of the spout so that upon a subsequent filling operation the siphon action of the spout will be repeated. The inner end of the spout remains below the liquid level in the chamber in all positions of the spout so that there is no danger of failure of the siphon action. The elevation of the filling spout sealing collar 52 from the neck of the bottle exposes the opening 60 to atmosphere to relieve the gas pressure in the diaphragm chamber 55 and thus effect the closing of the liquid valve 53.

After the filling spout is raised from the bottle, the bottle is conducted from the filling table to the capping table 94 by means including the star wheel 99 and the guard member 96. When the bottle leaves the rotary filling table the valve plunger is spring-urged to its closed position so that there will be no accidental application of suction or pressure to the spout until the spout again reaches an incoming bottle. While on the capping table, the bottle is capped or closed in any suitable manner and is then conducted to the outgoing portion. of the conveyor chain 15.

In the absence of bottles from the filling table during the time in which filling operations would ordinarily take place, the valve plungers 90 remain in their spring-urged closed positions so that there will be no application of suction to the spout opening 60, nor will there be any flow of gas to the same opening or to the diaphragm chamber 55. In the presence of a leaky bottle, the valve plunger 90 will of course be in open position, but it will not be possible to evacuate the bottle. The leaky condition of the bottle will also prevent the building up of sufficient gas pressure-in the diaphragm chamber 55 to open the valve 53, thereby avoiding any discharge of liquid into the bottle. The -fiow of gas to a leaky bottle will be somewhat more rapid than in the case of a perfect bottle and this is relied on to close the ball check valve 88 and...

thereby prevent the loss of any appreciable amount of gas.

In the absence of a bottle onthe active portions of the. filling table, the spout descends but its downward movement is limited by the engagement of the roller 62 with the cam track 63. If the descent of the spout in the absence of a bottle is undesirable for any reason, means can be provided for latching the spout in its upper position. One way of accomplishing this is shown in Fig. 8, in which the bottle-operated valve plunger 90' is provided with a laterallyrecessed inner end 100 disposed to lie adjacent the reciprocating spout-operating link 61', the valve plunger being held against relative rotation. The link 61 is provided with a notch 101 which is adapted to receive the end of the valve plunger when the latter is in its forward springurged position, thereby serving to latch the link 61, and its spout in their upper positions. When a bottle is present in the star wheel, it depresses the valve plunger 90' to open the valve formed thereby and simultaneously the recessed portion of the plunger is moved laterally adjacent the link 61 in such manner as to provide clearance for the free reciprocation of the link.

The term bottle as herein used includes any equivalent container such as a can, a jar, and the like.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a filling machine, the combination of a reservoir adapted to receive liquid therein under pressure, a nozzle member pivotally mounted to swing in a vertical plane and disposed in communication with the liquid in said reservoir, said nozzle member including an outer depending portion adapted to enter a bottle therebelow for introducing liquid intothe bottle, a conduit carried on the depending end portion of said nozzle for introducing carbon dioxide gas under pressure into the bottle, and gas-pressure-operated valve means'carried at the outer end of said nozzle member and operable upon the attainment of a predetermined gas pressure in said bottle to permit the fiow of liquid into the bottle.

2. In a filling machine, the combination of a rotary table adapted to receive a bottle thereon in filling position, a liquid reservoir rotatableupper end thereof in communication with the gas with the table and including a space above the liquid receiving carbon dioxide gas under pressure, a nozzle member in communication with the liquid in said reservoir and mounted for movement in a vertical plane to descend into the bottle, means for sealing the nozzle member on the bottle, a conduit movable into the bottle with said nozzle member, evacuating means, valve means controlled by the rotation of said table for placing said evacuating means momentarily in communication with said conduit for evacuating the bottle, valve means controlled by the rotation of said table for placing said conduit in communication with said gas space for introducing carbon dioxide gas into the bottle, and valve means controlled by the attainment of a predetermined gas pressure in said bottle for permitting the flow of carbonated liquid into the bottle. 1

3. In a filling machine, the combination of a reservoir adapted to receive carbonated liquid therein, a nozzle member pivotally mounted to swing in a vertical plane and disposed in communication with the liquid in said reservoir, said nozzle member including an outer depending portion adapted to enter a bottle therebelow for introducing liquid into the bottle, and said nozzle member including a conduit for introducing carbon dioxide gas under pressure into the bottle, and valve means operable upon the attainment of a predetermined gas pressure into the bottle for permitting the flow of liquid into the bottle, said valve means including a gas-pressure-displaceable member arranged at the outer end oi said nozzle membehfor movement therewith.

4. In a filling machine, the combination of a support adapted to receive a bottle thereon in filling position, a conduit for introducing carbon dioxide gas into the .bottle, valve means for controlling the flow. of gas in said conduit means for subsequently introducing carbonated liquid into the bottle, valve means controlled by the attainment of a predetermined gas pressure in said bottle for permitting the flow of carbonated liquid into the bottle, and a check valve disposed in said gas conduit and adapted to close under an excessive rate of'flow of gas obtaining in the presence of a leaky bottle and while said first-named valve means is in open position. Y

5. In a filling machine, the combination of a reservoir adapted to receive liquid therein, a nozzlemember pivotallymounted on said reservoir above the level of the liquid therein and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, said nozzle member including an inner end portion disposed below the liquid level in saidreservoir and an outer depending end portion forming a siphon a hub portion journalled on said standard and extending above the liquid level, there being a port formed in said hub portion opening at the including a depending outer end adapted to register with a bottle therebelow and to seal said bottle, and a gas conduit carried on said nozzle member in communication with the hub port on said reservoir and including a portion opening into the bottle for admitting carbon dioxide into the bottle when said hub port is open.

'7. In a filling machine, the combination of a reservoir having a liquid space and a superposed counter-pressure gas space, a support receivinga bottle in upright filling position with its neck portion above the liquid level in said reservoir for limiting the filling level in said bottle to the liquid level in said reservoir, a movably mounted nozzle member in communication with said liquid space and registrable with said bottle, a bottle sealing member carried by said nozzle member, means for introducing counter-pressure gas into said bottle, and means for controlling the movement of said nozzle member with respect to the upright bottle.

8. In a filling machine, the combination of a reservoir having a liquid space and a superposed counter-pressure gas space, a support receiving a bottle in upright filling position, a nozzle 11181111 ber adapted to descend into the bottle and having a releasable sealing engagement with said bottle and having conduits communicating with said respective liquid and gas spaces, a valve in said gas conduit operated by the bottle when moved laterally onto said support to filling position to control the now of gas to the bottle, and valve means controlled by the gas pressure within the bottle for admitting liquid into the bottle.

9. In a filling machine, the combination of a standard, a stationary valve member surrounding said standard, said valve member having an evacuating port in its upper face, a liquid reservoir journalled on said standard above said valve member, a bottle support rotatable with said reservoir and adapted to receive a plurality of bottles thereon, a. plurality of filling heads in communication with said reservoir and each having a releasable sealing engagement with a respective bottle on said support, each filling head having air evacuating and liquid conduits and said liquid conduit communicating with said reservoir, a second valve memberv surrounding said standard to rotate with said reservoir and seated on the upper iace of said first-named valve member, said second valve member having a plurality of ports in its lower face successively registering with said evacuating port and having respective conduit connections with the air evacuating conduits in said filling heads for successively evacuating the bottles placed on said rotary support, and means for controlling the fiow or liquid to said bottles.

GEORGE J. MEYER.- 

